At St Michael’s Primary School, Lyme Regis, we place support for children with special educational needs high on our priorities and ensure that very well qualified and experienced staff support these children to ensure that they make the best progress possible.

We take pride in supporting children with a wide range of needs well. About one in five children have special educational needs at different levels at some time in their school life. We identify your child’s needs as early as possible.

A special educational need may affect one or more of the following areas:

• learning
• communication
• emotional
• behavioural
• social
• sensory
• physical
• medical

Our school has policies for Inclusion, Special Educational Needs, Disability and Single Equality. We also review our Accessibility Plan each year.

These clearly state our school’s commitment to offer an inclusive learning experience for everyone. We ensure the best possible progress for all our children whatever their abilities or needs.

If a pupil has a learning difficulty or disability that requires any special educational provision, they will be placed on the SEND Code of Practice Register according to their needs. 
 

The type of special educational provision a child may receive will vary according to their needs. This is discussed with parents every step of the way.

At any time a parent has a concern, the procedure to follow is to speak to:

• Your child’s class teacher
• SENDCo/Inclusion Co-ordinator (Freya Bearsford-Walker)
• The Headteacher (Nick Kiddle)
• The SEND Governor (Betty Wood)
• The local Parent Partnership Service for advice.

We work closely with outside agencies to include every child with any special need or disability within our school. To provide additional support or a special programme of learning, it may be necessary to refer your child to one or more of these agencies.

The process of referral does take time, so we ask parents to:

• keep in contact with us at school – speak to your child’s class teacher or the school’s SENDCo/Inclusion Co-ordinator
• keep a diary
• tell the school if you are using other professionals, who and why, and ask them to make contact with us.

For Further information please click on the following links:

Dorset’s Local Offer – www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/local-offer

Family Information Service – www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/fis/search

Dorset SEND Newsletter - dorsetforyou.gov.uk/SENDnews

St. Michael's CE VA Primary School SEND co-ordinator (SENDCo) is Miss Freya Bearsford-Walker.  To be contacted via telephone 01297 442623, e-mail: office@stmichaelslyme.dorset.sch.uk, or in person via the school office.